Car-coupling



(No Model.) K

R. W. THOMAS.

GAB. GOUPLING.

No. 308,011. Patented Nov. 11, 1884.

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD W. THOMAS, OF SLATINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,011, dated November.11, 1884.

Application filed May 5, 1884. (No model.)

.T0 all whoml t may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. THoMAs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Slatington, in the county of Lehigh and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Oar-Coupling forRailroad-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of two drawvbars coupled. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view of adraw-head uncoupled. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a draw-head having theold pinand-link coupling applied to it. Fig. 5 is a verticalcrosssection of an arched couplingblock. Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofone draw-head holding a cone-headed couplingbar.

My invention relates to railroad-car selfcouplings; and it consists in anovel construction of the draw-heads, and also in a novel constructionand combination therewith of a spring-actuated coupling-block, wherebythe said parts are peculiarly adapted for the use of a cone-headedcoupling-bar, as will be fully understood from the following descriptionwhen taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

Before describing my invention I desire to disclaim pivotedcoupling-jaws for grasping the cone-heads of coupling-bars, also todisclaim a spring drop-pin for said purpose, as such devices are old andwell known.

In the annexed drawings, A A are two drawlieads having re-enforcingenlargements B B at and near their ends. Each one of said drawheadspresents the following peculiarities: An outwardly-flaring opening ormouth, a posterior chamber, B, and an intermediate lug, g, which risesfrom the floor of the chamber B, and is constructed with a centralchannel, h, for guiding the cone-head of the coupling-bar C into saidchamber. This lug g is also constructed with a rear inclined plane, i,the object of which is to allow the head of the coupling-bar to freelypass from chamber B over the lug g when it is desired to effect anuncoupling of cars. Directly above the said grooved guiding-lug g arectangular passage is made vertically through the upper part ofthedraw-head, in which is applied a verticallymovable coupling block, G.ylThis block is constructed with two lower limbs, ZZ, forming an arch, b,the lower ends of said limbs being beveled downward and backward, asshown in Fig. 2, so that when the block is down, as shown in thisfigure, said beveled surfaces will impinge against t-he inclined planet'of the lug g, and thus the latter will aid in resisting strain on theblock G. It will also be observed that the arch b fiares outward for thepurpose of allowing a cone-head of the coupling-bar C to raise the blockG, and pass beneath it in making acoupling. The block Gis held down bymeans of a spring, F, which is secured to its upper end, and also to thetop of the drawhead, consequently the block G is self-coupling, and maybe raised to effect an uncoupling by means of achain attached to an eye,E.

lt will be seen that in consequnce of the peculiar construction of thelower end of the coupling-block G and the upper part of the lug g andthe pressure of the spring F that av coupling-bar, C, connected to onlyone drawhead, will be held in a horizontal position proper for couplingtwo cars when they are moved together.

The draw-bars are perforated at D for the purpose of receiving acoupling-pin, H, for the well-known link-coupling.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a self-coupling for cars,the combina` t-ion, with a chambered draw-head, of a lug. g, having aguiding-groove and an inclined plane, z', in combination with thespring-actuated coupling-block movable in a passage through the upperpart of the draw-head, and constructed with a flaring arch, b, andbeveled legs, Z l, substantially in the manner and for the purposesdescribed.

2. The combination of the draw-bar, a guiding-lug,`g, on the floorthereof between its flaring mouth and a rear chamber, B, and avertically-movable spring-actuated couplingblock, arched as described.

RICHARD W. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

DAVID MCKENNA, GRIFFITH! D. JON-Es,

